A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fusco family of Italy.
Reg. 9572 · Italian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au lion d'or, cour. du même, arm. et lamp. de gu. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'azur entre deux d'or. S.: un lion d'or et un griffon du même, tous deux arm. et lamp. de gu.”
NaplesNaples, c. 1775
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Map of Italy showing where the Fusco arms are recorded
The Fusco arms were recorded in Naples, c. 1775.
Naples was the largest city in Italy and the seat of a kingdom. Its noble houses were numerous, and the kingdom kept formal lists of the families entitled to arms, which is why so many appear in the records.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Italy in this period.
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
Sovereign of the period
Alvise Giovanni Mocenigo
1763–1778
Reigning in Italy when the Fusco arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Italy
In the Italian states, coats of arms were often used by noble families to show their status and history. These symbols were passed down through the generations to all legitimate male descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design but sometimes added small changes to distinguish their specific line from the main branch.
Granting authority
Various local rulers and city governments controlled the use of coats of arms across the different Italian states.
How they got arms
Families often assumed their own arms or received them as official grants from local lords, popes, or city councils.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in local city archives or private family books rather than in one single national register.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Naples.
Origin & History of the Fusco Family in Italy
The surname Fusco originates from the Latin word fuscus, which translates to dark or swarthy. In the context of early Italian naming traditions, this term was likely used as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor with a dark complexion or dark hair. By the time the family was firmly established in Naples in 1775, the name had become a permanent identifier passed down through generations. During the eighteenth century, Naples was a vibrant cultural hub under the Bourbon monarchy, and families like the Fuscos were often integrated into the city’s complex social and economic life. Many people with this name during that era lived within the dense urban fabric of the city, participating in the local trades and civic institutions that defined the Neapolitan landscape long before the unification of Italy.
Fusco Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
fuscus
A Latin adjective meaning dark, swarthy, or dusky in color.
This name
FuscoAn Italian surname historically used as a nickname for someone with a dark complexion or dark hair.
also spelled
Fusco
Mataloni
Fusco-Mataloni
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi italiani. 1978
Archivio di Stato di Napoli, Stato Civile della Restaurazione
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
